CROWDERVILLE, Damoign--Five people have died in an overnight sorority house fire in southeastern Damoign.
The fire tore through the old, three-story home in north Crowderville around 3:00 am eastern time. Neighbors called 911 and broke windows to help rescue people trapped inside.
Seventeen people were accounted for outside on the street as fire crews arrived on the scene, but five women were unable to escape.
"We do know at this time there are five deceased in the northeast corner of the basement of the building," Deputy Fire Chief Scott Klegger said.
Klegger warned there may be more victims.
"We're not exactly sure how many people were inside the building at the time the fire broke out. Obviously, it's a sorority house, and there are a lot of young women that lived in this building; a lot of people come and go, and so no one knows for sure the exact number of people that were inside when the fire occurred," Klegger said.
Klegger also indicated the sorority may have hosted a party before the fire broke out.
"We're working right now with the Crowderville Police Department to determine if there was a party or gathering involving alcohol and drugs directly preceding the fire," Klegger said. "Obviously, there may have been a lot of people attending a party, and if alcohol or illegal drugs were involved, that could potentially have contributed to impairment and confusion in an emergency situation."
Christina Klineman, who is the president of the sorority group that occupies the house, told a Crowderville TV news station the five victims were all members of the sorority and students at nearby Civica University.
Officials are not releasing information until identities have been verified and next of kin have been contacted.
The fire tore through the old, three-story home in north Crowderville around 3:00 am eastern time. Neighbors called 911 and broke windows to help rescue people trapped inside.
Seventeen people were accounted for outside on the street as fire crews arrived on the scene, but five women were unable to escape.
"We do know at this time there are five deceased in the northeast corner of the basement of the building," Deputy Fire Chief Scott Klegger said.
Klegger warned there may be more victims.
"We're not exactly sure how many people were inside the building at the time the fire broke out. Obviously, it's a sorority house, and there are a lot of young women that lived in this building; a lot of people come and go, and so no one knows for sure the exact number of people that were inside when the fire occurred," Klegger said.
Klegger also indicated the sorority may have hosted a party before the fire broke out.
"We're working right now with the Crowderville Police Department to determine if there was a party or gathering involving alcohol and drugs directly preceding the fire," Klegger said. "Obviously, there may have been a lot of people attending a party, and if alcohol or illegal drugs were involved, that could potentially have contributed to impairment and confusion in an emergency situation."
Christina Klineman, who is the president of the sorority group that occupies the house, told a Crowderville TV news station the five victims were all members of the sorority and students at nearby Civica University.
Officials are not releasing information until identities have been verified and next of kin have been contacted.
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